"Reporting Is Not Safe": Effectiveness of Jeonnam Office of Education Power Harassment Reporting Center Questioned

Hyunsook Park of Jeonnam Provincial Assembly: "Many hesitate to report due to concerns about secondary victimization"
Provincial Office of Education explains: "Anonymous reporting available, counseling cases on the rise"

Hyunsook Park, a proportional representative of the Democratic Party in the Jeonnam Provincial Assembly, pointed out on November 3 during the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education's administrative audit that the operation of the power harassment reporting center lacks effectiveness.

The Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education operates a victim reporting center and a counseling center to eradicate power harassment among public officials. It also allows for anonymous reporting through a conflict mediator and a designated safe lawyer system.

Hyunsook Park, Jeonnam Provincial Assembly Member

However, Assemblywoman Park stated, "According to a survey conducted by the Jeonnam branch of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union in February this year, 67.7% of kindergarten teachers reported experiencing power harassment," and added, "Despite the existence of a reporting center, many hesitate to report due to concerns about secondary victimization."

She continued, "Although a power harassment reporting manual has been established, the provincial office of education limits itself to guidance and supervision, shifting the responsibility for victim recovery and organizational culture improvement to schools and local education support offices. This structure is not unrelated to the fact that Jeonnam ranked lowest nationwide in the 2024 civil service evaluation."

She further emphasized, "Everyone should be able to report while being protected," and stressed, "It is essential to establish an effective response system to prevent power harassment so that Jeonnam education can become a trusted organization."

In response, Audit Director Kim Jaegi said, "We have amended the ordinance to allow for anonymous reporting, and the number of counseling cases has increased compared to last year. We will continue to strengthen publicity and further improve the protection system."